Inspector to hold examination on Local Plan

THE examination of Tamworth’s Local Plan – a blueprint for housing and employment development in the borough up until 2031 – is being held at Tamworth Borough Council’s offices from Tuesday June 16 to Friday June 26.

The examination hearings will allow the Inspector, Mike Fox, to examine the Local Plan in detail to determine whether it is sound and complies with all legal requirements.

The criteria for a Local Plan to be judged sound are whether the Plan’s policies are positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy.

The hearing sessions begin on Tuesday June 16 and will run until Friday June 26 (excluding Friday June 19 and Monday June 22), starting at 9.30am (10am on June 16). The sessions are being held at the Tamworth Borough Council offices in Marmion House, Lichfield Street.

Each hearing session is open to members of the public to attend and observe proceedings.

More than 60 sites across the borough have undergone in-depth studies to assess their suitability for future housing which was reduced to 24 potential sites. 16 of these are bownfield sites.

The three strategic housing sites are; Anker Valley with capacity for 500 dwellings; former Golf Course site with capacity for 1,100 dwellings and Dunstall Lane with capacity for 700 dwellings.

The Local Plan was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in February this year, following a series of consultation events which gave members of the public and interested parties a chance to look at the Plan and submit their responses.

Councillor Steve Claymore, Cabinet member for Economy & Education, said:“Tamworth is expected to experience a high level of growth in the next few years, and we need to be able to identify and provide the necessary housing, employment, infrastructure and retail to allow the borough to fulfil its full potential.

“It is vital for the future growth and development of Tamworth that we have a Local Plan in place which can meet the needs of the borough.

The evidence base for the Local Plan shows that Tamworth has a need of at least 6,250 new homes over the lifetime of the plan, but due to development constraints, such as Green Belt and extensive flood zones, only 4,250 are planned for within Tamworth between 2006 and 2031 – approximately 170 new homes a year. Of the new homes allocated in the Local Plan, 1,451 have already been built since 2006.

Work has been ongoing with Lichfield and North Warwickshire Councils for them to help provided 2,000 new homes needed for Tamworth outside of the borough.